The reading rep issue 7 (1)

The Reading

Issue 7

Spring into Action!

We’ve probably all eaten far too many Lindt Chocolate bunnies and Cadbury Creme eggs for one year, but after the delights of the Easter holidays, spring has well and truly sprung! So much so, we’re ushering in the summer term already – bring on that sunshine! We can’t wait to share with you the news from your academic rep team and members in a revival of The Reading Rep. So welcome to our first issue back with highlights from Niall, your familiarfaced Education Officer and meet our new fresh-faced Academic Rep team too.

From celebrating the Teaching and Learning Showcase 2017 to chilling out with RUSU Says Relax summer campaign we’ve got great things to shout about this month…

Meet the Team Hi! I’m Niall Hamilton, the current Education officer and I’m in my final two months of the job, so will be starting the handover process soon. I hope you’re as relaxed as you can be with exams now in full swing! My office door is open to any student wanting to chat, chill out or moan about anything. Make sure you check out what’s happening in the RUSU say relax calendar and best of luck with exams. Solidarity!

Niall Hamilton, Education Officer

Victoria Bundy – Academic Rep Manager I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone, how is it summer term already?! There have been lots of changes here at RUSU and we have a fabulous new team of Academic Rep Coordinators helping support you.

I’ve been working at RUSU for nearly three years now (eek!) and with a record number of students now involved in representation, I’m happy to say that the student voice is louder than ever. So a massive thank you to all of our Reps for your amazing commitment to improve your programmes for your classmates and future students. Good luck with your exams – you got this!

Emily Bartholomew – Academic Rep Coordinator Some of you may know, my name is Emily and I am one of the new Academic Representation Coordinators. Since graduating from Essex University in July I have worked for Vodafone HQ and BNP Paribas, until joining RUSU in late January! It was so great to start the role during election period; I really loved being a part of the buzz and it was brilliant to witness the enthusiasm and drive of the campaigners.

I’m really excited to now be focusing on future projects with the rest of the team to promote our impact and improve student experience.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me with suggestions or anything regarding Representation.

Hannah Smithson – Academic Rep Coordinator It’s so nice to have joined the team here at RUSU at this gorgeous time of year. Most days lunch has been outside in the sunshine with the faint smell of BBQs in the background. Talking of background, I wanted to introduce myself as a Journalism graduate from Bournemouth University, who used to work for their students’ union in my final year.

RUSU (loving all the acronyms in this role already!) seems like a very sociable and warm place to work so please get in touch if you have any achievement stories to tell us about or pop in and say hello…

“This year’s conference was interesting to say the least, with some really important motions being passed such as fighting antiSemitism, supporting PG victims of sexual harassment and even putting Chinese food on the NUS extra card!

Reading students pitched up down to ensure their motions got passed; free education, student power and hate

crime reporting centres. However, there was a clear shift in political direction.

The NUS has progressively become more left wing over the last few years, as students have become more and more angered by the government not listening to them.

But, with this conference we have seen a shift back toward the moderate

side; motions were debated to depoliticise the national union of students, the incoming president supporting students as consumers and the militarisation of education (our fees being invested in the arms race etc). The national shift to the right has clearly been replicated in national conference. The delegates will be

.

Have you had enough of late night cramming for exams and emergency take away food for overrun revision sessions? Well, Student Wellbeing are running #LifeTools talks throughout the summer term so get down to Carrington and find out how you can minimise stress and improve your health. From talks on ‘Getting a good nights sleep’ to ‘Capturing confidence: learn strategies to do and feel better.’ A full programme of free events can be found at www.reading.ac.uk/student or email talks@reading.ac.uk And you don’t need to book – just turn up!

writing a review of conference from their own perspective which will be released later this month, so do check it out at rusu.co.uk.” ~ Niall Hamilton, Education Officer.

If you missed out on any of the action going on in Brighton why not view the delegates speeches and other news about NUS on Twitter #NUSNC17 or at nusconnect.org.uk

RUSU Partnership in

Surpassing last year’s numbers, this year’s RUSU Excellence Awards had a record number of nominations, with over 500 students voting for their favourite support staff, personal tutors and academic lecturers.

Thanks to your involvement and support we had a super start to the term with a stellar turn out for the Teaching and Learning Showcase 2017.

University staff shared their best practice and achievements on stage and we also did some live filming that will be gracing our social media channels so anyone who didn’t make it can catch up online. Watch this space…

Featuring two winners of Course Rep and School Rep of the Year 2017, we have to give a special shout out to Millie Shepherd and Sean Atkinson who rocked their roles this year and deservingly won their shiny trophies and an awesome accolade to add to their CVs. We spoke to School Rep winner and previous Course Rep of the year 2016 winner, Sean to see what academic representation meant to him and how he felt when he won an Excellence award for a second year in a row!

“I’m just glad I could step up for students; have meetings, get answers and solutions, so I do it because I enjoy it but you never expect to get an award at the end of it,” said Sean. Dr Maddi Davies during her opening speech at this year’s Showcase summed up the meaning of Partnership in teaching and learning very well: “I think it’s fair to say that my students teach me as much as I teach my students.”

Dr Davies added that teaching for her was "all about communicating real passion, real interest and real engagement.” We wanted to hear more from Maddi so asked her how important these awards were for both staff and students after the awards and her thoughts on teaching. RUSU are so please to host this event each year and want to say another congratulations to all the winners, staff and students alike!

Winners Dr Madeleine Davies -Teaching Excellence in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Dr Steve Musson- Teaching Excellence in Science Dr Mirjana Sokolovic-Perovic- Teaching Excellence in Life Science Dr Irute Daukseviciute- Teaching Excellence in Henley Business School Dr Graham Hollow – Personal Tutor Excellence Mr Patrick Holmes – Support staff Excellence Dr Jacqui Turner – Diverse and Inclusive Teaching Excellence Miss Dina Ghanma – Graduate Teaching Assistant Excellence Camilla Shepherd – Course Rep of the Year 2017 Sean Atkinson – School Rep of the Year 2017

5

Total number of nomination 521

“RUSU says Relax, our annual exam stress busting campaign, is back by popular demand for another year! This year we've gone bigger and better than ever before with an event happening most days during summer term. Check out the orange booklets that have been spread over campus, or the RUSU website for the full list of events! We've got everything from bouncy castles to puppy rooms, so make sure you check it out. Taking a break during the exam season is so important for your health and also your productivity, so remember to take some time out for yourself. We'd love to see your RUSU says Relax memories so keep hash-tagging #RUSUsaysRELAX to share them with us! Wishing you all good luck and success this summer term.” ~ Pip Oppenheimer, Welfare Officer “We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.” (George Takei) “On the 17th May we’re celebrating IDAHOBIT which stands for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

First celebrated in 2004, IDAHoBiT is on the 17th May every year and marks the day in 1990 when homosexuality was officially taken off the WHO’s list of mental health disorders. The day is designed to raise awareness of the violence and discrimination faced by LGBT+ people around the world. The importance of the day feels particularly pertinent in today’s society. The numbers of hate crimes are increasing and given the news from Chechnya in recent months, stresses the need for more awareness on a global level.” ~ Sed Joshi, Diversity Officer

For a full list of events for IDAHoBiT & RUSU Says Relax see our What’s On page

rusu.co.uk/surveys/79

IDAHoBiT Event Dates:

School Rep Handovers are happening this term. New reps meet those who are now old hands at the role to pass on their wisdom and advice for our wonderful newbies.

Date for the diary New full time officers start on 19th June 2017

RUSU Says Relax Timetable : Mindfulness: Wednesday 17th May 1-1:45pm, RUSU Boardroom Comedy night: Tues 16th, Thurs 23rd, Tues 30th May, 7pm start Yogalates: Tues 23rd& 30th May, 6:30pm Wessex Hall Puppy room: Tues 9th May (Sign up online and for more events visit rusu.co.uk/rususaysrelax

We want to hear from you on what you want to see in your next issue of The Reading Rep so we’re introducing a new feature called Your Say. It will act as our letters page, giving any student the opportunity to write in and tell us about your news and views. If you want to be published in the next issue, please email h.smithson@reading.ac.uk with the subject Your Say and tell us what you’d like to see in these pages…

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self ”~ Ernest Hemingway

MOST INSPIRING READ… Men Who Have Made Themselves published

by James Blackwood. It was given to me as a christening present and I read it a lot.

Sharing a coffee with …

Ben Cooper Morning or Evening?

Morning Summer or Winter?

Winter Kittens or Puppies?

Puppies Netflix or Nightout?

Nightout Tea or Coffee?

Tea with sugar. Milk first

By Train or by plane?

Where am I going?

Whichever’s quickest Essay or presentation?

Presentation. I love to talk Mojos or Mondial?

Mojos

BIGGEST DAILY INSPIRATION...

My father

MY FRIENDS WOULD DESCRIBE ME AS...

Energetic. I’m always doing something, I just physically can’t stay still

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHEIVEMENT: It’s got to be getting elected as RUSU President!

SOUNDTRACK TO MY LIFE...

Toto - Africa

PET PEEVE People being late. If you say you’re going to be somewhere, don’t be late

GUILTY PLEASURE Cars – I love my Red Toyota GT86 as much as I love my Ford Ranger truck!

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? Summer

MY GOAL FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS IS… To get the world’s best dog! And also diversification of my family farm.

PSST… Make sure you register to vote on May 22nd www.gov.uk/registertovote ‘During the 2015 election 43% of 18-24 year olds voted compared with 78% over 65s’